Shock absorber bracket



April 5, 1938. .1. w. LEIGHTQN 2,112,914

SHOCK ABS ORBER BRACKET Filed July 6. 1936 Patented Apr. 5, 1938A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates generally to automobiles and it has particular relation to a. connection between a shock absorber and the chassis frame.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved means for pivotally anchoring one end of a shock absorber on a chassis frame but at a point vertically above the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of the above designated character which can inexpensivelybe manufactured from bar stock, which can be assembled easily, and which possesses the required rigidity to hold the upper end of the shock absorber in position.

Other objects of the invention will become ap-lparent from the following specication, from the drawing to which the specification relates, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to tlie drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, Vside elevational v view, illustrating a shock absorber and chassis frame with the-shock absorber pivotally anchored onY the frame according to one form of the invention; l

Figure 2 'is an end elevational view of the arrangement shown by Figure 1;.and-

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure lbutillustrating another form ofy the 'ii'iveritionfv fil Referring to Figures 1: and-2; thechassis frame of the automobile is indicated at I9 and in this' instance the frame' comprises achannel iron. A

conventionalshock absorberl ofthe tubulartype is indicatedat "Il, andi t, jwillf be understood that v in general this type oLshgckvabsorber includes a plunger and cylinder, 'whichr'elatively reciproo catel during relative'f verticali-movement ofV "the frame and 'axle ofl theiiaut'mobii'e." While the -axle is :not shown, 'it will b,e .u r 1derstood that the Y plunger extends;' downwardlg-andjisanchored thereto.1 For anchoring Y the tubular'partof theshock absorber on the trame, and at a point ver.

tically above the latter; a bar I2, generallyj of S-shape, is provided, and the lower end of the bar is upset at linearly spacedpoints, indicated at Il and I5, which are apertured forreceiving fastening bolts. Upsetting ofV the Vportions M Vand I5 increases thel strength. of the barar'ound the bolt openings and additionally provides flat surface. areas ofv 'substantial f dimensions for` en-v gaging the side of the frame. lIt will benoted in Figure 2 that the upset portion' I5is cutaway atV the cut away part I8 must be outward and it follows that the upper end of the bar will be in a proper position for connection lwith the shock absorber.

Bolts I 8 and I9 passing through the apertures in the portions Il and I5 of the bar are employedfor fastening it'to the frame and these bolts pass through openings in the frame and through a channel shaped supporting or backing plate 20 located at the inner side of the frame. At its inner end, each bolt is provided with a nut 2| and lock washer 22, for fastening the parts rigidly together.

The upper end of the bar is provided with an integral, enlarged flange 24, and outwardly of v the ange, a cylindrical bearing portion 25 of reduced Adiameter is provided. outwardly of the bearing portion 25, a short, annular surface 25 of slightly smaller diameter, ascompared to that of the bearing Portion 25 is provided, and 'outwardly of this surface, the end of the b'ar is additionally reduced lin diameter and is threaded, as indicated at 21.

The tubular part of the shock vabso'rberis provided with an integral eye 29 and opposite ends'of.

.the opening in the eyeare oi-conical'shape, asin-- dicated atlland 3l, respectively.; Thefeyef-isf?! adaptedltoreceive the bearing prtion` 25 of the;` Y bar and between-theconical portions. 1 0' and-3| off `the eye opening; and the outensuri'acefof the ,bearing portion of the bar, rubber bushings 32 and 33. are'provideii;V which are of `substantially comi.

plernentary shape with-.respect 'to the' conical :por-

posed; on,"y the" annular surface 29 and then the It'willd be noted. that the rubber bushings have ori the bar andthe washer 34, respectively, and

accordingly, kwhen thenut' 384s tightened,vthe

pandsthe bushings mtb tightly nttins engage...

ment vwith'theopening in the'eye-.and thebearingl` Y portion 25'. It'will be understood, of course, that the bushings `provide a. resilient mounting that tively.

permits-me required ymount of mamimoye- 7 ment. necessary`4 during operation` 'of thesliocl:

. so absorber, when the axle and vframe move relay.v

In th-'construction shown by Figure 3, the

lower end of the bar is turned -oppositelyto the lower endot the bar shown by Figure 2 and the busfnssfare In place, a washer 34. is-.dis-j therefore this bar is of U-shape. The openings in the frame for mounting this bar necessarily have to be located diiferently, but in genthe bar is mounted on the trame in the same way as previously described in connection with 1 and 2. In this construction, instead of providing an integral upset flange 24. as shown by Figurel, at the upper end of the bar, a serrated `surface Il is provided at the right end of the bearing portion and this surface is slightly larger in diameter as compared to the bearing this smooth surface is not essential, it may be desirable for seating the lock `washer I5.

'I'he invention illustrated is so designed that the mounting member maybe inexpensively manufactured from round bar stock. The shape of the bar is such that the required rigidity is obtained in a very simple way, and without requiring expensive manufacturing operations. Mounting of the bar on the frame is a relatively simple operation, as it is only necessary to insert two bolts and tighten them and then a very rigid mounting for the upper end of the shock absorber is obtained. Principally the invention provides a mounting member of minimum cost, which is strong and rigid. and which can be mounted on the frame and assembled with the shock absorber in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of eil'ort.

Although more than one form of the invention has been `illustrated and described in detail, it

willbeapparenttothoseskilledintheartthat' various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A shock absorber mounting member comprising a bar of substantially round stock having curved end portions located in the same plane as the remainder of the bar, one of such end portions terminating in a reduced bearing portion, a further reduced threaded portion outwardly oi' the bearing portion and a shoulder at the inner end of the bearing portion so as to provide means for attaching the shock absorber to thevbar, the other curved end portion of the bar being upset to provide reinforced sectors at longitudinally spaced points and each sector having `a bolt receiving opening for fastening the bar to a chassis frame, said openings extending transversely to the plane of the bar and being located at different distances from a plane normal to the axis of the bearing portion, and said upset sectors having tlat'sides adapted to provide ilat areas of engagement with the frame, the bar between said sectors being retained in its rounded form.

2. A shock absorber mounting member comprising'a bar of rounded stock having bent end portions located in the same plane as the remainder of the bar, one of such end portions having a reduced section providing a bearing for a shock absorber, the other end portion being upset axially to provide reinforced and laterally enlarged sectors, each of which has a bolt receiving opening for fastening the bar to a chassis frame, each of said sectors having a at side adapted to provide flat areas of engagement with the frame, the bar between such sectors being retained in its rounded form.

JOHN W.- LEIGHTON. 

